Help with Hebrews Passage

[TPJCatholic]

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? If the worshipers had once been cleansed, they would no longer have any consciousness of sin. But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year. For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Hebrews 10:1-4

In the Mass we continually represent Jesus’ sacrifice…so how is that done considering this passage?

As the passage states, if the a worshipper has been once cleansed, they should no longer be concious of sin–correct? So if we receive Jesus’ sacrifice in the Mass, should we not have to only do this once?
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[DianJo]

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? If the worshipers had once been cleansed, they would no longer have any consciousness of sin. But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year. For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Hebrews 10:1-4

In the Mass we continually represent Jesus’ sacrifice…so how is that done considering this passage?

As the passage states, if the a worshipper has been once cleansed, they should no longer be concious of sin–correct? So if we receive Jesus’ sacrifice in the Mass, should we not have to only do this once?

This passage is saying that Christian faith now relizes that the OT sacrifices did not effect the spiritual benefits to come but only prefigured them. If the sarifices had actually effected the forgiveness of sin, there would be no reason for the constant repetition - they were only reminders of the people’s sin.

Check out Ps 40: 7-8 where it says, “Sacrifices and offering you do not want; but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts and sin-offereings you do not require; so I said: Here I am; your commands for me are written in the scroll.”

If you continue reading in Hebrews 10: 8-18, you get a better idea of what the passage is saying. Veses 9-10 says, “Then he says, " Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

The Mass is not a re-sacrifice of Jesus. The Mass is a re-presentation of the once for all sacrifice that Jesus made for us. We are not re-sacrificing, therefore we are not doing as the Israelites in offering new sacrifices every time. The Mosaic Law does not forgive sins, only Jesus can do that.

All those who died (before Jesus) under the Mosaic law did not go to heaven. They were waiting in sheol/bosom of Abraham for Jesus’ once for all sacrifice so the righteous could be admitted to heaven. All of their sacrificing was of no benefit.

God was merely preparing His people for the once for all sacrifice of Jesus. Verse 16 says, "This is the covenanat I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord: "I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them upon their minds,’ " 17 "he also says: "Their sins and their evildoing I will remember no more.’ " 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.

We no longer have to offer sacrifice because Jesus has fulfilled the covenant that God spoke of.

Just remember, we do not re-sacrifice Jesus over and over as the Israelites did with their animals - Jesus did that once and for all.

 

[TPJCatholic]

Dian,

Yes, but we do call the Mass a sacrifice, we do not call it a representation of Jesus’ once for all sacrifice. Also, since Jesus’ sacrifice is perfect, and taking the passage I posted into account, should we not have to receive the Eucharist only once and then be gauranteed salvation as Protestants often claim? John 6 makes it clear that we will be saved if we consume Jesus’ Body and Blood…

 

[Fidelis]

TPJCatholic:

Yes, but we do call the Mass a sacrifice, we do not call it a representation of Jesus’ once for all sacrifice.

Actually, we call it both. From the CCC:

B]1366

The Eucharist *is thus a sacrifice * because it **re-presents ** (makes present) the sacrifice of the cross, because it is its memorial and because it applies its fruit:

[Christ], our Lord and God, was once and for all to offer himself to God the Father by his death on the altar of the cross, to accomplish there an everlasting redemption. But because his priesthood was not to end with his death, at the Last Supper “on the night when he was betrayed,” [he wanted] to leave to his beloved spouse the Church a visible sacrifice (as the nature of man demands) by which the bloody sacrifice which he was to accomplish once for all on the cross would be re-presented, its memory perpetuated until the end of the world, and its salutary power be applied to the forgiveness of the sins we daily commit.

Also, since Jesus’ sacrifice is perfect, and taking the passage I posted into account, should we not have to receive the Eucharist only once and then be gauranteed salvation as Protestants often claim? John 6 makes it clear that we will be saved if we consume Jesus’ Body and Blood…

If that were the only verse in the Bible, that might be so. However we know from the rest of the Scriptures that our salvation is also conditional based on our obedience (Romans 2:5:10; etc, etc, etc). It’s not either/or: you have to take the whole Gospel into consideration.

 

[RyanL]

1 Cor 5: For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

St. Paul is talking about the Mass using symbolic language (Passover is also known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread; this is Old Testament foreshadowing, or “type”, of the Mass). The Passover Feast was commanded by God to continue for ever - we continue it through its New Testament fulfillment, the Mass. In any case, St. Paul is talking about the Mass, and tells us to “keep” (read: continue doing) it.

A good step-by-step walk through of the Mass as a Sacrifice:
catholic.com/thisrock/2001/0109sbs.asp

A sample dialog between a Protestant and Catholic, touching on Hebrews 10:
catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0309sbs.asp

What the ECF had to say:
catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9207frs.asp

A quick link (and another thread discussion) on Biblical foreshadowing, or “types” (as St. Augustine said, “The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.”):
catholic.com/thisrock/2001/0109fea2.asp
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=747767#post747767

Please let us know if you have further questions.

God bless and take care,
RyanL

 

[Grace_and_Glory]

I think another thing that it’s important to consider is that when Jesus instituted the Eucharist, he said, “Do this in memory of me.” He wouldn’t have commanded his followers to do that if he didn’t want them to repeat it.